Container closing apparatus



Dec. 12, 1950 S w. DENNIS ETAL 2,533,437

CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1950 s. w. DENNIS ETAL 2,533,437

CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,d ar Jiens hen,

Dec. 12, 1950 s. w. DENNIS ETAL 2,533,437

CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES CONTAINER CLOSING APPARATUS Stanley W. Dennis and Edgar Henschen, Baltimore, MdL, assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application July 1, 1947, Serial No. 758,250

Claims.

This invention relates to container closing apparatus of the type comprising a head by means of which closures are applied to containers as the result of the intermittent relative approach of Figure 8 is a section with certain parts omitted, taken on line 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the combined adapter and cap separating and stack supporting mechthe head and successive containers, and includ- 5 anism; ing means by which closures are transferred from Figure 10 is an elevation looking from the left a magazine to position for application between of Figure 9; each closing action. Figure 11 is an elevation looking from the right One of the objects of the invention is to proof Figure 9; vide, in such apparatus, improved means for 30 Figure 12 is a sectional view through the asseparating the lowermost closure in the stack sembly of Figure 9 with the cap separator in a in the magazine and dropping the same upon the different position; transfer slide, while supporting the remaining Figure 13 is a side elevation of the assembly of closures in the stack in an improved manner by Figures 9-11, looking from the lower side of the separating and dropping means. Figure 9;

Another object is to provide an improved slide, Figure 14 is a sectional view taken at right cooperating with the closure separating and angles to the plane of Figure 12; dropping means to transfer the separated closure Figure 15 is a similar section, with the cap from position in axial alignment with the magaseparating element in the other position; zine to the applying position. Figure 16 is a plan view of the cap separating Another object of the invention is to provide element removed from the other partsof the means for separating closures from the bottom assembly; of a stack in a magazine, which may be readily Figure 17 is a vertical section on line l'll'l substituted for similar means heretofore emof Figure 16; ployed in capping apparatus, and which may be :5 Fi ure 18 is a fragmentary side elevation of used to convert the machine from operation with the apparatus of Figure 1, and one type or size of closure to operation with a Figure 19 is an end elevation looking from the generally similar closure of difierent size. Thus, left of Figure 18. the present invention provides an improved Basically, the illustrated capping head is simclosure feeding device and also a device for conilar to that shown in Figure 11 of the patentto verting old machines for use with new and im- Huntley and Rau, No. 1,956,218 of April 24, 1934. proved closures having smaller overall diameters. In the said Figure 11, the closures are shown as Other and further objects and advantages of being relatively flat although somewhat shoulthe invention will be apparent from a consideradered circumferentially. The caps shown in tion of the embodiment shown for purposes of Figures 3 and 4 of the present drawings are of illustration in the accompanying drawings and the type disclosed and claimed in the copending described below. application of Stanley W. Dennis, Serial No. In the drawings:' 723,630, filed January 22, 1947, now Patent No. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken 2,497,870 issued February 21, 1950, for Method through the axes of the capping head and maga- 40 of and Apparatus for Making Container Closures zine; and Resulting Products. The cap generally des- Figure 2 is a horizontal section and partial eleignated at 2!] has a circular top wall 2|, a devation, taken substantially on line 22 of Figpending skirt 22 and an out-turned radially corure 1; rugated peripheral flange 23. The skirt is slightly Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved cap or shouldered peripherally at 24 to control the nestclosure, with which the apparatus of the present ing of the caps when stacked and to maintain invention is adapted to operate; the flanges a substantial distance apart, all as is Figure 4 is a side elevation of a stack of such explained in the above mentioned Dennis apcaps; plication. For a given size of bottle, the original Figure 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Figblanks both for the closure shown in Figure 11 ure 1, showing the parts in a difierent position; of the Huntley and Rau patent and Figures 3 Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the and 4 of the present application have the same same plane as Figure 2, with the parts in the diameter. However, due to the partial preformposition shown in Figure 5; ing of the present cap and the substantial depth Figure 'l is a vertical section and elevation, 5c of the skirt 22, the new cap is of substantially I taken on line 1-! of Figure 5;

smaller overall diameter than the cap of the patent. While the present invention is by no means limited to the conversion feature, one of its objects, as previously stated, is to provide means whereby older apparatus, already in use by bottling concerns, for instance like that shown in the Huntley and Rau patent, may be readily converted for handling and applying the smaller diameter caps of the Dennis application.

The apparatus of the type with which the pres-- ent invention is concerned is shown and described in considerable detail in the copending application of Dennis and Henschen, Serial No. 723,987;

filed January 24, 194W, now Patent No. 2,5 8, issued August 8, 1950, and reference is made to that application for a description of the parts common to the two constructions. The cappingv head comprises a cylindrical bracket 25, adapted to be mounted upon a rotary turret orthelike, as disclosed in the patent to Stewart and Franz, 2,211,186 of February 23, 1943, although it should be understood that the bracket maybe supported in anyother appropriate machine, providing relative movement between the bottle to be capped and the bracket as well as the parts carried thereby --for relative inevement with respect thereto.

Splined in the bracket forvertical reciprocation is the cylindrical stem portion of the throat carr'er the top of the stem carrying a roller-32 for the purpose described in the said Stewart and Franz patent. The carrier includes a base: block :33 vhich provides a circular chamberycoaxial with the stem, in which an expansible throat 3 3 is disposed, in surrounding relation to a presser foot 35.- A-spring 38, which urges the throat and a foot-abutment upwardly seats at its'lower end on a plate it supported through a tongue-and-grcove at the left, front endand at its rear, innerend by a pin 39 which extends.

between vertical flanges-d3 and 43 (Figure 2) formed integrally at the rear end of-block plate. SeErhaving an opening in which thethroat is freely received. This structure is all'generally similarto that shownthe above-mentioned Huntley et al. patent.

At its outer; rear end 62 the block'33 is provided with a cylindrical aperture 43; which receives' anadapter sleeve :3 forming a part of the cap separating and dropping assembly hereinafterne'scribed; The adapter sleev facilitates handling ofthe smaller caps described above and has an upper-flange supported upon the upper surface oi therear portion :22 of blo k 33. The diameter of the opening in the present instance is of a diameter to pass with slight clearance the relatively' flat closures of the' Huntley and Rau patent, but the adapter sleeve 4 3 has an internalidiameter to pass .with slight clearance the smaller caps of the type shown in-Figures 3 and 4.

Above the-flange 450i the sleeve M,there are positioned-the closure separating and feeding elements oithe adapter unit, represented generally at 45, and upon which the cylindrical magazine'tube ll'of the prior applications and patents may be mounted. The cap separator assembly (Figures 947) comprises a block 48, having a slotted open end portion 49 communieating with a cylindricalopening 50, of'a size corresponding to that of'theinterior bore of the sleeve 44 and aligned coaxially therewith. The upper portion of the opening 50,- however, is flared outwardly as at 5|, so that its uppermarginsubstantially registers with the lower "end ofthe magazine tube 41. 4

portingelernent 53. (Figures 16 and 17) including upper surfaces iii of the legs 65,

a cross head 59 and legs 65, 51, disposed in the ways 53. The head 59 has an upper surface 82 disposed upon a horizontal plane below the iii. The inner side faces of the legs are provided with inwardly projecting blade or wedge members 35, 65, terminating in blade-like edges 5?, 63, at the line of junction between their upper surfaces, constituting continuations OfathG-SUZTECSS and their lower inclined surfaces 63, ((3. At their ends, the-legs E55 andgti carry laterally projecting pins,'i2, '53,- mounted for reciprocating movement iiropenings-it, E5 formed'in the side edges of theblock ii and communicatingwitgh the ways in which the legs are mounted.

The block it maybe secured'to the flange 55 of the adapter sleeve :4 by appropriate bolts and nuts 16; Threaded openingsl'l may be formed in theupper surface of the block, to facilitate securing the magazine .tube'i thereto, by screws as shown in Figures 18 and 19;

The inner surface -of:the'1nagazine tube 41 (Figure 1) includes upperandrlower cylindrical portions separated byra shoulder 82; The diameter .of the upper portionxSZ: is such as. to enableitto receive-a tubular package otcaps of the type shown inxthe Huntley. and Han patent with the. tube supportedtbyg-the-shoulder84, as indicated-in Figurelll of said patent. The diaincter of portion is, as here. shown, the. same as that ofthe aperture =f3illfl',th flfl0llt portion 52 of the block 33 and-ispf a size to receive-the package tube for:the caps 2% shown in- Figures 3 and 4, the inclined surface 5i ,ofrthe block 4-8 projecting inwardly to provide a shoulder ;f or the supporttof the package tube.

A transverse pin 8-) (Figuresz and 18) is supported by=the bracket: 25: and has pivotally mounted onits ends apair. or parsllclbell crank levers Si, 88.- having downwardly projecting arms 89 and The bellcranlaulevers include rearwardly-projecting arms 19 ir-and 93, tocthe ends of whiclrare: pivoted; on. coaxial; pins, rectangular blocks 93 and 94, slidable in horizontal-grooves defined by the lateral ribs 95,:-9i;;and 99-;1on

the sides of the. magazine cylinder Al; 3;

Belowrthe-blocl;

platform 98 (F ing ears Hit-rand; iiii r-lthe pivotal recepticnoi be pin 51-h, supportedin a transverse bore in the outer extremity of base 'blocl "2;: At its ,inntrvend platform *has extensions 2 Gt constituting.keepers; of slightly hooked form, zshown in; Figuiesrlend 5. 1 EX- tensicnsfiland 4: of thebase block-33 support a transverse pivot pin for large yoke 'whose arms are spaced epartxsoas to strain:

the keepersxifit and 23. A pin. m. having a flat side is mounted in the lower ends of thceyoke army-and has its position ccntrolledby a spring pressed plunger, as and for the purpose-fully shOWn'Land described. in:the' aforesaid co pending application of Dennisand HenschemfierialflNo.

1 supported g upstande.

723,987. By manipulating the pin lll'l, as there described, the platform may be released at its rear end and swung downwardly about the pin N32, to give access to the parts thereabove.

The platform 99 has side walls lit and H? which are flat on top, except for ears H38 and IDI, these walls being bounded inwardly by par-- allel grooves l l8 and H9 which intersect the opposite sides of an opening formed in an annulus I20 at the thickened inner end of the platform 99 and coaxial with the throat chamber. This aperture has a cylindrical surface 123 and a downwardly and outwardly flared surface 124 therebelow, which serves as a guide for the bottle cap. The platform as has a top central groove I25 intersecting the opening 23 and parallel ribs 125 and 927 between the inner and outer grooves, substantially lower than the side walls 5 l6 and Ill. A central slot 128 extends from the end of the platform 99 to the front wall of the annular member 526. Thus, throughout the major portion of its length, the central groove I25 has an open bottom.

The slide i229, adapted for reciprocating movement upon the platform 99 has parallel bottom grooves 53% and it! (Figure 8) which receive the rails E26 and 121, with the top of the slide in substantial registry with the tops of the side walls H6 and ill The left-hand end of the slide, as viewed in Figures 1, 2, and 5 has a flat upper surface, from which a pair of extensions 133, i3 5 project toward the capping throat, including depressed horizontal ledges i35 and defined by upwardly projecting walls 53? and E38, spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the flange of the cap to be applied. The space between the extensions is bounded at the left by a cross-wall 139, from the lower portion of which projects a ledge 5 18, having a top surface on the same plane as ledges E35 and I36, the latter being provided at their forward ends with upwardly projecting stops providing, with wall 139 a three-point centering means for a cap supported on the ledges, as explained in the aforesaid Dennis and Henschen application.

Projecting downwardly from the slide 529, through the opening E28 in the platform is a tubular stud M3, connected, as explained in the above mentioned Dennis and Henschen application, by links l ifi, to the bell crank arms 89 and 953, whereby reciprocating movements are imparted to the slide, as hereinafter explained.

Referring to Figures 2, 7, 18 and 19, the arms 89 and til of the bell crank levers have links M9 and E56 pivotally attached thereto, intermediate their ends. The arms are provided with elongated slots I52, 153, which may have open bottoms and closed ends, embracing the pins 13 and 12 with a lost motion connection so that the pins and the cap separator element 58 connected thereto are shifted forwardly and rearwardly at the end portions of the oscillating strokes of the bell crank levers 89 and iii].

In Figures 1, 2, 15, and 18, the apparatus is in the normal or raised position. The blade or wedge members 65 and 66 of the U-shaped cap separating and stack supporting element 58 are disposed directly beneath and in supporting relation to the flange of the lowermost cap 20 in the stack in the magazine. Another cap 20A is positioned upon the flat rear end of the slide I29, while still another cap 283 is positioned upon the forward extensions H3 and 34 of the slide, the top surface of cap 2613 being spaced below the presser foot 35 a distance slightly greater than 6 the thickness of the end stops. When a bottle is now lifted into the opening I26 and into engagement with the cap, the latter will, first of all, be lifted against the presser foot so that its flange will be above the stops. As the rise of the bottle continues, the throat carrier, the block 33, the platform 99 and the magazine 47 are lifted as a unit so that the bell crank levers are swung clockwise to retract the slide and also, at the end portion of their stroke, through links M9 and I50, to shift the cap separating and stack supporting element 58 rearwardly from the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 15 to that shown in Figures 5, 6, 9, and 14. During these forward movements of the slide and the separating element 58, the slide extensions 133, 13 5 are withdrawn from proximate relation to the cap 203 and the latter remains clamped between the end of the bottle and the lower surface of the presser foot 35. The cap 20A drops down onto the ledges l35, I 36 of the slide extensions 133, i3 2, rearward movement of the cap with the slide being re strained by the sleeve 5 5.

As the blades or wedges are retracted, toward the left, and are withdrawn from the opening 58 out of supporting relation to the flange of the lowermost cap 20, the stack also drops down from its support upon the upper surface of the blades or wedges 65, 66, onto the upper surface 62 of the cross head 59 of the separating element 58 to the position shown in Figures 5 and 5. It will be understood that the cross head 59 moves into stack-supporting relation in the aperture 50 as the blades move out, and vice versa.

As the upward movement of the throat carrier 38 is arrested through abutment with bracket 25, the throat'is projected somewhat downwardly against the action of spring 36, and, thereafter, the presser foot spring yields, the bottle rises into the throat, and the cap is applied.

When the cap has been applied and the bottle lowered, the throat carrier and all of the parts supported thereby are lowered toward the rest position of Figure 1. Hence, the bell crank arms 89 and 90 swing in a clockwise direction, from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 1, advancing the slide I29 and, during the end portion of the stroke, shifting the cap separator element 58 forwardly.

As a result of these actions, the cap supported on the slide extensions I33 and 134 is shifted to the position of cap 211B in Figure 1, in axial alignment with the throat and presser foot. Simultaneously, the pointed ends 61 and 68 of the blades or wedges 65, 66 enter above the flange of the lowermost cap in the stack and below the flange of the cap thereabove, in supporting relation to the stack. As the cross head 59 moves out of supporting relation to the lowermost cap, the flange of the latter is positively forced downwardly by the inclined lower surface 10 of each wedge or blade member, thereby causing that cap to drop and depositing it upon the flat upper surface of the front end of the slide A29, whereupon the parts assume the positions shown in Figure l and the apparatus is ready for another cap separating, feeding, and applying operation.

Considering the apparatus of the present invention from the aspect of converting the capping head of the Huntley and Rau patent for use with smaller caps, it will be seen that this may be accomplished by (a) removing the cap separating and delivering mechanism therefrom and substituting the assembly shown in Figures 9-15 of the present application; (b) inserting a 7 new throat and adapter fitting; and (c) substituting the platform 99 and its slide 52 for the corresponding mechanism of the patent.

The invention, however, is not limited to the use of the apparatus for conversion purposes, as it provides an inherently improved separating and delivering mechanism. Nor vention to be limited to the specific details of construction described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, as all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents are intended to be included.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for applying closures of the type having flanges vertically spaced apart when arranged in a stack, said apparatus-including a head comprising a vertical magazine for receiving a stack of closures and vertical capping throat horizontally spaced from the magazine, guide means extending between the lower ends of said magazine and throat, a slide reciprocatable in said guide means between retracted and advanced positions, saidslide comprising a rear portion spaced below the bottom of the stack for receiving and supporting a single closure when the slide is in advanced position, a pair of spaced parallel forward exte sions having surfaces at a lower level than said rear portion adapted to support a closure through its flange, means for transferring the closure supported upon said rear portion to said extensions as the slide is retracted, for advance with the extensions to a position below said throat, and means spaced above said slide at the lower end of the magazine for supporting the stack and for delivering the lowermost closure to the l tion of the slide upon each advancing thereof, the last mentioned means compi reciprocating element connected to the slide for movement therewith, said element having. a flan e-supporting surface at one level and another flange-supporting surface at alevelspaccd thereabove a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the flanges in the stack, whereby, as the element is advanced with theslide, the lower supporting surface is removed, the lowermost cap is dropped and the upper supporting surface is moved into stack supporting relation.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the first mentioned flange-supporting surface of saidelement comprises a cross-head and in. which the other flange-supporting surface is constituted by blades projecting inwardly from longitudinally extending, laterally spaced legs, blades being spaced rearwardly from the cross-head and positioned at a higher level.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said blades have horizontal upper surfaces and downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower surfaces, for positively separating the lowermost closure from the stack as the blades are advanced and as they enter the space between the flanges of the lowermost closure and the one th'ereabove.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said element comprises a U-shaped memhaving a forwardly disposed cross-head constituting the first mentioned flange-supporting surface and rearwardly projecting legs having inwardly projecting blades at a level above the cross-head, said blades constituting the second mentioned flange-supporting surface.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that the upper surfaces of the blades are disposed in a common horizontal plane and the lower surfaces are inclined downwardly and rearv-Jardly, to positively separate the lowermost closure from the stack as the element is advanced and as the blades enter the space beu een the flanges of the lowermost closure and the one thereabove.

STANLEY W. DENNIS. EDGAR HENSCHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,956,218 Huntley et a1 Apr. 24, 1934 1,964,078 Podel June 26, 1934 2,304,437 Bell Dec. 8, 1942 2,384,052 Stewart et al Sept. 4, 1945 

